COMMENT
Retiree seeking returns without the risk of stocks.

Invest in money market ETFs or high-interest savings accounts paying yields of 3.5% or higher. ETFs

BUY

Is one of his largest bank holdings and still likes it. Their exposure to tariffs is middling, not a huge factor for them. Their PE has sneaked into the higher half of bank valuations, but remains and will likely remain one of his top holdings.

BUY

They've repositioned themselves in good growth areas. Maybe questions about their exposure to Asia (so does SLF-T), but Asia offers good growth potential. No problem this being a core holding.

TOP PICK

Their last quarter was penalized due to some stop-loss insurance on their books and a small impairment from an investment in Vietnam and softer flows at MSF, their US investment arm. Is now in a range worth buying. This and MFC remain core holdings of his. It yields a safe 4.13%

(Analysts’ price target is $86.45)
TOP PICK

They operate in less politically risky areas like Peru which is expanding, and are not in Africa, and a copper mine in Arizona. Also will develop a project in Alberta. Today, they reached an agreement with the Cree Nation in Alberta--good news. Copper is needed for electricity production and we will likely see more demand in the future.

(Analysts’ price target is $14.56)
TOP PICK

Is one of the best-managed companies in Canada. All oil stocks have pulled back, so this is an opportunity. Lots of growth potential through the Oil Sands. Pays a 5.76% dividend.

(Analysts’ price target is $50.74)
COMMENT

We've heard from companies a lot about a cloudy future. During earnings season, more companies than not are beating, but many can't look ahead until there's clarity, given Washington's volatile policies. The outcome of the Canadian election will make little difference; Canada is so leveraged to the US economy. He may give the edge to the Tories in terms of their polices and the Liberals', but neither party will move the needle. PM Carney is the most-qualified person running a country who understands the global economy, given that he ran two central banks.

DON'T BUY

He drives a Tesla. Musk stepping away from Washington is likely a good thing, but the stock trades at a ridiculous 150x PE. Bulls will argue that robo-taxis are coming, but we're not there yet for self-driving cars (he tried it himself).

COMMENT

The tariff focus on China and Apple already shifting their supply chain out of China (to India) is the most interesting in this week's tech earnings.

COMMENT

Alphabet's report and positive news on the cloud is probably a good thing for MSFT who will report this week.

COMMENT
for a new investor with limited funds

If you panic when the market is running for the exits, then do not invest by yourself, but work with an advisor. Also, do dollar-cost averaging, like not buying when markets rise 10% after buying an initial tranche, but invest in a correction, like if we return to recent lows.

COMMENT

What dividend stocks does this hold? The most robust, the highest, or great companies with fine balance sheets? Also, spread the investment, investing in ETFs that offer covered calls, or ETFs with growth and/or dividend aristocrats.

PARTIAL BUY

You have to love the infrastructure play. Share are in the middle of recent peaks and troughs. New money, invest half now. If Trump tariffs hammer markets, we will likely return to the trough around $30--buy more. Invest long-term money on lower valuations, but this is in the middle now.

DON'T BUY

A growth stock in tech, so it is twice as volatile as most stocks. More speculative than most, though not expensive right now. It made a low recently around $7, so it's move up a lot since then. Too risky for him. But if it re-test the recent low and holds, that's a better entry point.

BUY

A high-quality index, holding mature companies that are consistent steady-eddy payers in Canada (energy and insurance companies). Good but don't make this the core of your portfolio. Also, is this taxable or not? (He has to research that.)